Omaha daily bee., 1887-02-27

attention to what we say or do. But
when the bill reaches the lands;hing. it
is amended 10 accordance with the
wishes OF the ministry, and then there Is
as q result, the usual friction between
the two houses. The ministry, in such
cases, does not strive TO act as mediator.
but quite the contrary, does what it can
to widen the breach, and then, when the
end of the financial year arrives. re-
course is had to a wholly unconstitu.
tional proceeding, and the king DEGREES
the sums necessary to carry on public
affairs. This was done for the first time
in 1917, and few months later the rigs.
dag
WAS FOOLISH ENOUGH
to legalize by its vote this irregular and
illegal act, suppoSing that the govern
ment would repeal it. But our eyes were
quickly opened to the real intentions of
Mr.. kStrup and company. Since April,
1885 the ministry has dccreed not only
one appropriation bill after another, but
other provisional laws too-such as
those limiting the freedom of the press,
establishing body OF armed police, etc.
II the Danish people were not calm and
phlegmatic by temperament and If revo.
luuonary measures were not distasteful
TO them, such a course as that pursued by
the EslTup cabinet would long ago have
produced fatal conflict.
II the autumn Of 1886 the ministry
found an excuse TO deal the folkething
still another blow. On October 2i,
young fanatic, whose mind was un-
balanced by this long and bitter political
conflict, fired twice on the prime minis
ter, tu without woundiug HIM. The
opposition was unanimous in condemn.
ing this act. and the president of the
folkething, MIR. Berg, Immediately called
upon Mr.. Estrup. Nevertheless. the
folkething was again dissolved and for
nearly two menths the government went
on legislating without any legislature.
And still
ANOTHER ILLEGAL ACT
of the government mus. be recorded |
refer TO the arrest of Mr.. Berg and other
members in the very midst of parliament,
they having been condemned by the
the courts for utterances in public meet
ings. Thus the Estrup cabinet was as
regardless OF the Invlolabilitv of the
person of a deputy as of the financial
powers of the folkething itself. | have
said that the bone of contention is the
fortitication OF Copenhagen Here is the
view that the opposition takes of this
questions formerly, Denmark used to
spend about one third of its revenue tor
military purposes. To-day one half of
our money goes into this vessel of the
DanaideS. Nor is il simply on financial
grounds that they object to ;he fortitica.
tion of the capital. There are political
objections also. 4 fortified Copenhagen
would be like q defective lightning-rod
which attracts rather than wards OFF
The reactiOna-y states on
the east, especially Russia, would seek an
alliance with military Denmark, while
the liberal nations of the west--England
and France-would look upon her as
continual source of danger Rendering
COPENHAGEN A MILITARY STRONGHOLD
would, therefore, draw Denmark INTO
the gulf of foreign alliances. while the
opposite course would probably bring
about the naturalization of the three
empires of the north-Denmark, Sweden
and Norway-and thus obtain greater
security Tor Scandinavia al time when
Europe is always on the verge Of con-
vulsion. This independence OF the three
states, the guardians of the
entrance into the Baltic, the Mediter-
ranean OF the north, would be in the
interest of all Europe. But the minis
DO not take this wise view of the
situation. so that the Estrup cablne is en-
DANISH welfare abroad as well
as at home.
And now, a final word as to the future
policy of the opposition in the falkethinp
which has Just begun its first session.
During the last four or five years we